The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-02-03


rivals, many old and prominent firms have,
within a few years, declined business and
entirely dropped out Of the list. On the con-
trary, with Baltimore trade, as regards the in
crease In number Of its factors. the large trans
or the remarkable volume attained in the |
aggregate-all point to the fact of a gradual
and healthy increase of business.
These two opposite conditions have largely
been brought about by the constantly increased
expenses in the one case, and the comparatively
limited expenses in the other, attendant upon
the new modes of conducting business.
Baltimore merchants buy from first hands.
from manufacturers of Domestic Goods, located
within the State and near by.
The products of the more distant mills are
received direct from those mills without inter
mediate handling. Intercourse with the manu-
facturers of Great Britain, and the Continent
of Europe, wherever located, and of whatever
specially. is direct, through buyers, sent by
Baltimore houses to all such points, each
season. Finally, these purchases are. by means
of direct ocean steamers. laid down at the
port of Baltimore, subject to precisely the
same duties as are imposed at every other port
but, it is positive, the outside, incidental and
necessary charges at this point are lighter
than at any other leading port in the country.
of the expense necessarily entailed in conduct
ing business, certain features cannot be ignored
Warehouse rents In Baltimore range from
$4,000 to SIZE 700, against $4,000 to $50,
600 for those of the same size, similarly located
in New York. The difference in taxes amounts
wharfage, storage and carriage fully one-hah,
and, in personal expenses, whether Of prin-
cipal or clerk, such as house rents, provisions
and fuel, are ali 5ozper cent less in Baltimore
than in NewgYork. These advantages may be
claimed for Baltimore and must determine. to
q great extent, in her favor.
IT, then, the merchant of Baltimore can pur.
chase goods upon equal terms, and the ex-
pense of conducting business be less. it neces-
sarily follows that the Baltimore merchant
can sell at a lower figure, and still realize a
reasonable profit.
These advantages must be conceded, and
are too weighty to be imperative.
INDUSTRIAL ADVANTAGES.
As a manufacturing or industrial centre, the
City of Baltimore May claim to possess both
natural and legislative advantages, unequaled
by those Of any city in the country. The
neighboring soil is rich in ores-its proximity
to the inexhaustible coal fields of the State,
and to those Of Pennsylvania and West Vir-
ginia, to the timber growing sections of the
Chesapeake, the Susquehanna and the Caro-
linas, renders 1t the cheapest lumber market
and seaport for fuel on the Atlantic coast
The city government has exempted from taxa
ton all manufacturing plants, and, with equal
liberality, water for such purposes is supplied
at merely nominal rate. and. in certain cases,
entirely exempt from charges. In few cities
do the provision markets present, at all times
such abundance and variety. or at such reason
able rat es.
Climate. seasons duly considered. approaches
as near as may be. to perfection-spared alike
from the extreme rigors of winter and the
plentiful, and at reasonably low wages The
laborer does not, however, have cause for
complaint, and in marvelously few cities is
it possible for him to be domiciled beneath
his own roof as here. comfortably and
acknowledgements houses being unknown
These enumerations are sufficient to guarantee
the amicable feeling between the employer and
the employed, and to ward of-except through
the direful collisions between labor and
capital.
Equally favorable are the opportunities for
interchange in raw material for the manufac-
tured article.
Such aids to healthful progress, in no sense
vain assumptions, or vague and empty state
ments, are too potent to be ignored.
Conditions such as these, assure to the enter
fair returns, and for the growth Of this branch
in our midst. the greatest possibilities.
review of the transactions for the year
1886 will show that 9,4S2,353 tons of
freight were received. and 5,94o,633 tons
were shipped from Baltimore. The total ag-
gregated amount OF Baltimores trade, com
MERGE and manufacture, may be stated at
$434,759, 644.
We have sought in these Introductory fea-
lures of our grand edition, devoted to an expo
sition of the manufacturing and general indus
trial interests of Balt more, to allude, however
imperfectly, to her prominence in those rsla.